Parrots,butterflies and mini dragons.

 Just a few of the highlights from a few short visits around the doors this week.

On Monday- me, bob and the better half had a quick stroll around south Marine park at about 3pm. I  had only been in the treed area about 5 minutes when one of these noisy squawkers belted up....guess what? NO camera. After watching one parakeet for about 15 minutes preening and feeding in the same spot, it was back to the car to return home for the camera....Twenty minutes later I was back in the same spot minus my original companions but armed with the camera. Not a squawk or sign of the green bugger!  After about a 30 minute wander my lugs picked up the noisy return of the green invader, more or in the same place as previously. Great views had and whilst watching another one flew over and landed!. Pointed the first one out to a local dog walker who informed me she has them visit her garden around the Mariners cottages.
First for me and our lass in ST, after a few attempts trying else where around the doors.

 Checked Jackies beach out on the Tuesday hoping for Dingy skippers on the wing, wasn't disappointed picked up 4 here...great stuff! Also loads of Wall-browns on the wing around this area this day.

 Spotted-wood near Shearwater est. plenty on the wing now.

 I had the time and chance to join in with a newt survey being carried out along the Don area this week by NERAG (north-east reptile and amphibian group). This involved meeting up on the Thursday evening at 9pm and setting bottle traps with a licensed person who has undergone full training to do so and any other volunteers who fancy taking part.Most of the ponds where also 'lamped' and great views had in one in particular, sadly none caught on this evening in the net. Wellies off and driving home by 11.20pm.
Back the next day at 7am.... along with the other folk, plus a representative from Living waterways who have done a great deal of work along our section of the Don.  I'll not go into too much detail with the results of many a bottle placed in numerous ponds but I found this a great experience as I've never done this before.
The shot above are 3 male Common newts, recorded for the first time by our leader at a certain pond area.

Whilst the wellies where being extracted on Friday morning this little belter fluttered around the outskirts of the parking area!...Great ending to a fantastic experience.

And we picked up a Avocet reported earlier on Boldon flats later today...

Poxy weather for otter sign.

 This weekend was the Durham wildlife's trust survey weekend for volunteers to take to local waterways and plod the patches allocated for a few hours over the two days. Unfortunately the water levels along the Don in Jarrow was high on Saturday morning, which was expected, but still you have to try.

 The two shot's above are of a area of the Don that is looking great! thankfully its been seldom visited (by the look of the undergrowth/ path etc.) by foot traffic. Deemed this too dangerous today to re-check.

 Another section of the Don that's hardly touched upon. This one is in a pretty urban environment, lodged between housing estates and is less than a mile in length, but sign has been recorded here before. ;-)
And it was the 'only' site I picked up sign in this weekend...today with prints.

 Primrose LNR yesterday morning.

 NO rocks or mud visible yesterday.

 Wren's nest hanging over a public path.

 Pair of Long tailed tits feeding young.

Chiffy, one of 8 calling along the stretch visited, along with Blackcaps and Willow warbs.  yesterday.

Out west,first time this year.

 As the title states...Me and the better half with Bob in tow travelled inland today for the first time this year with two flasks of hot water and numerous bites to eat. Just about all bar- the kitchen sink! came to mind before setting off.
Stanhope was the first stop off , with hope of Dippers showing well as they have over the years here. They did but at another section of the river here away from the stepping stones, along with 2 pairs of Goosanders.
Bollihope next- Despite 2 cups of tea and about a hour here watching the area we dipped Ouzel wise....first time for the last couple of years this has happened. ( Wellies to be included on the list for our next visit. ;-)

After a few drop-ins along the way it was time to eventually finish the dregs from the second flask on the way home. This cracking male Pied Flycatcher entertained us with song and views as we sat and drank tea in the car at Muggleswick.

Marsden bay this morning.

 My first wander down onto this beach today, since our sea birds returned to this fantastic site for the breeding season this year...Shameful I know!..Brilliant to watch the antic's of the Kit's and Fulmars pair bonding again along with the sound created...(the smell will come later. ;-) ).

 Lots of begging going off from nest ledges until returned mate's 'coughed up' a tasty treat.

 A few territory disputes still raged with the birds here, a few times some locked bills and tumbled to the ground still in battle.
What was more concerning was it looks like their numbers here have declined again. The main area around the Grotto especially to the south didn't seem to hold any birds compared to the last few years. But the area to the north of the bay by Camels island seems to be increasing Kit wise, counted 30 possible active nests here today along with 2 possible Fulmars. The Cormorant numbers seem low also this year along our coastline.

 Razorbill numbers seem about the same as the last few years, only one maybe two pairs looking to nest on the main cliff line above the beach.

Only seen 2 Sand martins above the old nesting holes today, hopefully more will return.

Lovely hour or so on these sands and he enjoyed it too.

The new tower

 I had a look at the new tower yesterday that's been constructed to hopefully re home the Readheads colony on the Tyne. It's only been up less than a week so obviously it's going to take a while for the Kit's to even think about colonising this structure.

 But hopefully next year ( if not this one) the faithful pairs will drop into here before reaching other sites along the Tyne. Decoy nests and tape luring are in place I've been informed ( hand made nest's made from the Don's mud.)...

Again great work carried out between the Tyne Kit's group, ST council, Gateshead council, the local folk's who care about our area and the Port of Tyne.

Evicted almost, but hopefully re-homed.

Its been a while since I last posted owt on here due to numerous reasons.

The title refers to our only inland nesting colony of Kittiwakes within South Tyneside at Readheads landing, which I tried to promote the plight of along with the Readheads landing group a while back when the Port of Tyne moved in to re-develop this long established site for the birds.
There's been some 'heavy traffic' especially as local district wise clubs and groups didn't seem interested...Thankfully the Tyne Kittiwake group (Dan the man) have thrown the full support to helping out at this site.

Nice Yankee in Jarra.

 Sunday morning and the phone alert buzzes via the twitter account, the Green-winged teal had been picked up again near St.Pauls on the Don. Well this brought me to life and made the decision for me where to have a wander for a couple of hours.

 Bumped into a couple of the regular Jarra lads first off when I landed, but they had no luck and the three of us didn't either as we walked the Slake road section of the Don here.

Goodbyes exchanged with these lads on the return journey and a wander around to the old Jarra bridge area next. Mr F. junior was on the bridge as I made my way around the bend of the Don heading in this direction. Mark had been watching the bird for sometime from the bridge....Typical I went the wrong way!..
Great views had by every one of this rare yankee in  jarra.